EpimAb Biotherapeutics Secures $74 Million Series B Financing to Advance Clinical Development of Novel Bispecific Antibodies

VCBeat (WeChat ID: biobeat1) has learned that on June 5, 2019, EpimAb Biotherapeutics announced the completion of a $74 million Series B financing round. The round was co-led by SDIC Innovation and Sherpa Capital, with participation from other investors including Zhongnan Ventures and existing Series A investors. To date, EpimAb’s total fundraising has exceeded $100 million.

With the proceeds from this financing round, EpimAb Biotherapeutics will continue to advance its EMB01 program, currently in Phase I/II clinical trials, and push multiple pipeline candidates targeting tumor immunotherapy and other areas with high unmet clinical needs into clinical development. Additionally, EpimAb Biotherapeutics will complete its process development and pilot production facility in Suzhou to expand its industrialization capabilities.

“The completion of the Series B financing will more rapidly accelerate the translation of EpimAb Biotherapeutics’ R&D achievements into our product pipeline, enabling us to further expand the company’s scale,” said Dr. Chenbing Wu, Founder and CEO of EpimAb Biotherapeutics. “In just under four years since our inception, I am immensely proud of EpimAb’s growth, driven by independent innovation. I extend my sincere gratitude to both existing and new investors for their unwavering belief in EpimAb’s technology and its potential to develop breakthrough therapies.”

Focusing on oncology therapeutics and other areas that can deliver significant benefits to patients, EpimAb Biotherapeutics is building a pipeline of bispecific antibody therapeutic products based on independent innovation. With the completion of EpimAb’s Series B financing round, Mr. Li Dongfang, Investment Director at SDIC Innovation, and Mr. Xing Cheng, Founder and Managing Partner of Sherpa Partners, have joined the Board of Directors of EpimAb Biotherapeutics, effective immediately.

In addition to Dr. Chenbing Wu, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, the senior management team of EpimAb Biotherapeutics also includes Dr. Stephan Lensky, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Business Officer, who oversees business development and financing, and Dr. Bin Peng, Chief Medical Officer, who is responsible for translational medicine and clinical research.

“EpimAb Biotherapeutics has become one of the most innovative biotechnology companies in China with a global perspective,” said Mr. Li Dongfang from SDIC Innovation. “EpimAb possesses independently developed key platform technologies, robust R&D capabilities, and refined management expertise. We are highly optimistic about its future development and are committed to partnering with this outstanding enterprise.”

“Over the past few years, we have closely monitored and witnessed the rapid development and progress of EpimAb Biotherapeutics,” said Mr. Xing Cheng from Sherpa Capital. “We are optimistic about the progress of its ongoing clinical studies. By enabling more patients worldwide to benefit from novel therapeutic approaches, EpimAb Biotherapeutics is strengthening its position as a global leader in bispecific antibody development.”

EpimAb Biotherapeutics is an innovative, international biotechnology company with R&D centers and pilot-scale production bases in Shanghai and Suzhou, respectively. It focuses on the research and development of innovative biologics leveraging its proprietary bispecific antibody technology platform, FIT-Ig®. The FIT-Ig® platform employs molecular biology techniques to fuse two monoclonal antibody sequences into a uniquely structured bispecific antibody. It is the world’s only bispecific antibody technology that requires neither amino acid mutations nor the inclusion of linker peptides or any non-antibody sequences, offering high druggability and industrialization efficiency.

Leveraging its FIT-Ig platform technology, EpimAb Biotherapeutics is developing a series of original bispecific antibody products targeting tumor immunology and other areas with high clinical demand. Meanwhile, EpimAb is advancing the strategic development of its platform and diversifying its product portfolio through various models, including global technology licensing and collaborative development.

SDIC Fund is a professional private equity management firm that operates independently in accordance with market-oriented principles. With assets under management nearing RMB 60 billion, its capital base encompasses financial institutions, the National Social Security Fund, as well as state-owned and private capital, making it one of the largest professional private equity management firms in China. SDIC Fund’s investment sectors include pharmaceuticals and healthcare, intelligent manufacturing, new energy vehicles and smart cars, energy conservation and environmental protection, and information and communications technology.

Sherpa Healthcare Partners was founded by a team of experienced investors and focuses on investments in the healthcare sector. The firm specializes in investing in and managing industry leaders and innovators across various sub-sectors, including innovative drugs, gene technology, medical devices and diagnostics, and healthcare services.

In these areas, the Sherpa team has built a robust investment portfolio, established long-term value-added partnerships, and developed the capability to deliver comprehensive services by leveraging key resources. The core team members have collaborated across multiple fund cycles, bringing over 15 years of experience in investment, operations, and management within the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors. They share aligned values, deep mutual trust, and critical expertise.